The dinner

A few hours later, in the large hall of the inn and under the puzzled gaze of Ranger, Alaric and I were walking side by side up the stairs to the second floor where Barnett Blicra's room was located. After confirming that none of the guards or servants were following him, Alaric took in a deep breath and mumbled something under his breath.

"What should I give you in exchange?"

I resisted the urge to smack the man in the back of his head and yell 'You are my master you can order me to do things for free!', and blurted out an answer.

"Money!"

I actually wanted to ask him to give me more of the special food cooked for him, but since Alaric has become a fool, I guess he will give us servants luxury food even if we don't ask for it.

"A-alright!"

Young master Alaric nodded his head and swallowed his saliva. We had already arrived behind the door or the man's room. Seeing us, the butler who was standing outside the door greeted the Alaric with a smile and turned to knock and open the door of his lord's room. The butler talked to Barnett Blicra before making way for us to enter.

When I was about to pass the butler and step inside the room, he suddenly grabbed my shoulder and tilted his head with a surprised face, as if taken back by how bold I was and that I wanted to enter the room of his master. Well, servants are not allowed to be present in such meetings.

"Ah, that... If you could let him..."

Alaric looked between me, the butler, and Barnett who was sitting behind the table full of food inside the room. Barnett also seemed puzzled by how I was about to enter his room without even a hint of shame.

"I'm sorry for being rude, but I'd like to be allowed to stay by the door."

My response made the butler frown a little bit and increase the pressure on my shoulder. Regardless of that, I sent a gentle smile at Barnett. Barnett Blicra looked at me and then at Alaric.

"There are no problems with that but... I don't really feel comfortable having a converstation with other people around."

"H-he is my personal servant! He is trusted!"

"..."

Barnett Blicra seemed resultant, but he gave a resultant nod to me in the end and gestured to Alaric to sit and the other chair. His butler let go of me, but he still glared at me as if I was a piece of shit. What? It's my master's fault, not me!

While Alaric was walking to the chair, Barnett raised his head once again and glanced at me from head to toe.

"Aren't you the servant who was at the same carriage as young master Alaric?"

Alaric flinched and turned around, flustered. Of course, Barnett Blicra didn't see it as he was focused on me.

"That's right, Barnett Blicra." My gaze sank down as I lowered my head slightly, making a few strands of dark blue hair cover my face in the process. "As everyone knows, young master Alaric has a little bit of trouble with his mana. Count Poqlen was worried about his son's condition during the trip, so he instructed me to stay close to the young master all the time and make sure he is alright!"

"Oh!"

"Ah!?"

The first gasp came from Barnett Blicra and the second one from Alaric.

'Why are you surprised?'

Once the gazes turned to him, young master Alaric gave the others a faint smile and pointed at the son of the duke.

"Thank you for inviting me."

"It's my pleasure!"

Barnett Blicra smiled and motioned Alaric to dive in. The next few minutes came in silence, with Barnett Blicra gently eating his food and Alaric doing his best to mimic Barnett and eat like a real nobleman.

After they ate almost half of their dinner, Barnett suddenly started a conversation.

"Have you read other novels aside from The Return of The Greatest Hero?"

Alaric swallowed the food in his mouth with difficulty and nodded his head.

"Y-yeah. I've read a few, but since I've taken interest in them since the start of this trip, there aren't many books I've finished reading yet."

"I see. Too bad, I liked to discuss some books with you." Barnett put down his fork and picked up the glass of water to wet his lips. "There aren't many nobles who are interested in such things, and if there are, they won't mention it to the others as they find it embarrassing. You are the first one I've met who brought up this issue. I was quite excited!"

It was obvious how happy the young lord was. Even the way he ate his food and talked showed how glad he was to finally find someone to discuss the 'embarrassing' matter of novels. I never thought Barnett Blicra would have such a side to him. He was always serious and quiet in all of the meetings I've seen him in all of my lives, so there was no way would know this young lord enjoyed reading books other than academic ones.

"I'm also delighted. I hope we get the chance to have more meetings in the future, and I'll read more in the meantime."

Alaric's voice wavered a little bit as he lined up those lies, but the other person didn't seem to notice it and just nodded his head with a smile.

"By the way, you said something about the economy in the evening. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Ah, that... It'd be an honor to receive your help, but unfortunately, those documents are things I can't show to anyone. I sincerely apologize."

"Ah!"

Barnett Blicra nodded with a look of understanding, then his expression slowly switched to that of a thoughtful one, before he finally opened his mouth with a little bit of hesitation.

"Are there... Are there also some problems with the state of Poqlen's financial state?"